READER COMMENTS

Published: March 4, 2012

In ''Black at Stuy,'' on the cover of last Sunday's Metropolitan section, Fernanda Santos profiled Rudi-Ann Miller, a 17-year-old senior who is one of 40 black students, out of a total 3,295, at Stuyvesant High School, long considered
New York City's flagship public school. Readers commented on NYTimes.com about the new demographics of Stuyvesant, which is 72.5 percent Asian, and on its admissions test; a selection of responses is below.

I've faced a similar, though less intense, challenge as Rudi-Ann, and I wish her the best. It's quite hard to be a minority teenager battling the negative stereotypes that society throws at you, especially during a time when you are just forming
ideas of who you are supposed to be.

It takes a supportive family to push you toward great academic achievement. It would also be nice to have a society that doesn't expect the worst from you and friends who are not going to shun you for caring about your education. The latter two will
have a tremendous impact on your mental health.

I don't think there's anything wrong with the demographics at Stuy. They are just an outcome of the unequal educational opportunities these students face. ... An affirmative action policy won't solve the problem. We need to look at the
communities from which potential applicants are derived. ... Therein lies the problem, of which poverty is only one component.

E.O.,

NYC

What does it matter if Rudi is black, white, yellow or red?

It's time for America, and especially our media, to look past race and see people as individuals. The only thing we should care about is if these students who are undoubtedly our best and brightest and future leaders are getting the best education
we could give them.

Thinker,

WA

New York City is 52 percent African-American and Latino, but the African-American and Latino representation at Stuyvesant is 3.6 percent. The idea that the ''merit'' of a student can be measured accurately -- and the potential achievement
of a student be predicted -- by a standardized test result is absolutely flawed, particularly when some students benefit by extra tutoring and preparation and other students are not even aware of the existence of
tests or preparation. The admissions system to specialized high schools in New York City should be completely overhauled.

Susana Morales, M.D.,

New York, N.Y.

As an Asian Stuyvesant alumnus, I deplored the lack of diversity at times during my time there, but I would not advocate changing the admissions process. It ultimately doesn't address a problem plaguing our nation: not prioritizing education. What
we need is a discussion about culture and stereotypes. Why aren't some groups prioritizing education? How can we make education a priority for our youth?

Sitruc,

New York, N.Y.

I attended Stuyvesant in the early '70s. I grew up in the housing projects in Long Island City. My parents made sure I spent more time doing homework and reading than sports. Let's stop blaming the system. Maybe parents should make sure their
kids spend more time with academics than they do with sports or video games. The opportunities are there for every student; that is the answer -- accountability and responsibility, not ''lowering the bar.''

MartinS,

Minnesota

As an administrator at a large middle school in Brooklyn, the idea that the entrance into Stuy is a true ''meritocracy'' is simply not true. The students from my school who get accepted in Stuy are sometimes the best, but more often
they were not the top of the class. Often they were the best test takers who had been going to prep school on Saturdays from an early age. Students who were more well rounded were hardly ever accepted.

JG,

Brooklyn

PHOTO: ONE OF 40: Rudi-Ann Miller, 17, of Stuyvesant High School. (PHOTOGRAPH BY NICOLE BENGIVENO / NEW YORK TIMES)